For the first time in history, the 284th birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj, the spiritual and religious leader of the Banjara community, is being celebrated by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. This event will be graced by the Home Minister of the Government of India, Mr. Amit Shah, as the chief guest, and Union Minister of State for Culture, Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, who will accompany him.
The Guest of Honour for this occasion will be Shri Sanjay Rathod, Minister for Food & Drug Administration, Govt of Maharashtra, Shri Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Senior BJP Leader and Dr. Umesh Jadhav, MP Lok Sabha Kalaburagi Karnataka & Shri Shankar Pawar, National President – All India Banjara Seva Sangh. The event is scheduled to be held on February 27, 2023, at 11:00 AM.
For the past 3 years, Sant Sevalal Maharaj Charitable Trust, New Delhi, whose president is the only Member of Parliament of the Banjara community of the BJP, Dr Umesh Jadhav from Kalaburagi Constituency in Karnataka, has been celebrating this occasion in Delhi. Thousands of Banjara community people from different states of the country take part in the celebrations.
This year, Banjaras from all over the country will gather in Delhi to celebrate this birth anniversary. A special train has been run from Karnataka, in which more than 2500 people of the Banjara community from Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh have reached Delhi. The program will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath Road, Delhi. Throughout the day, Banjara art and dance programs will be performed, in addition to the inauguration program and other cultural events. The Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, will attend this event on February 27, 2023, at 11:00 AM.
Sant Sewalal Maharaj was born on February 15, 1739, at Surgodankoppa in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka. He is considered a social reformer and spiritual leader of the Banjara community. It is believed that there is a population of 10 to 12 crore Banjara communities across the country.
He traveled across the country with his LaDenia troupe to minister to forest dwellers and nomadic tribes. Due to his exceptional knowledge, excellent skills, and spiritual background in Ayurveda and Naturopathy, he was able to dispel the myths and superstitions prevalent in the tribal communities and bring about improvements in their lives.
Among such communities, the Banjara community settled across the country by different names have permanently abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and settled in their own settlements called Tandas. In states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Sant Sevalal Maharaj is a revered icon of every Banjara household, and in all these states, Sant Sevalal Maharaj Ji’s birth anniversary is celebrated with great pomp. In the month of February. The Samadhi Sthal of Sant Sewalal Ji is located at Pohradevi, also known as Banjara Kashi, in the Manora Taluka of Washim District, Maharashtra.
